By Emily Jacobs
The NSW Government has released its cloud strategy, with government agencies now required to include a cloud option in all ICT procurement services.
The policy, a key part of the NSW Government’s 2012 ICT Strategy, was announced by the incoming Minister for Finance and Services, Andrew Constance. He says the cloud will improve government ICT operations.
“Cloud is the future of ICT service delivery and this policy puts NSW at the forefront of the digital economy, giving public sector agencies the tools and information they need to adopt cloud-based solutions,” he said.
“It will improve service delivery by allowing more agile, flexible and reliable technology and it will deliver cost savings by helping us get better value for money for these services.”
Agencies will be forced to evaluate cloud-based services when undertaking ICT procurements to determine the model that provides the best value sustainable investment.
Factors to consider in their evaluation include cost-benefit considerations, compliance and risk assessment.
The ICT Service Catalogue will provide agencies with easy access to services and pre-qualified vendors whilst the new as-a-service module of Procure IT Framework will provide a set of terms and conditions to make it easier for business and government to procure cloud-based services.
“We are creating standard terms and conditions so that the procurement process is straight forward and provides certainty for buyers and sellers,” said Constance.
Data centre consolidation into two new government centres will enable agencies to access ICT services from a range of providers. It will also host a private government cloud to provide ICT services in a secure area.
Suzanne Campbell, the CEO of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) welcomed the release of the supporting module.
“Cloud based services offer the opportunity for increased operational efficiency and service agility, both of which are critical as business transforms to a digital operating environment,” she said.
The policy aligns NSW with the Federal Government’s National Cloud Computing Strategy, which also requires federal agencies to evaluate cloud options in their ICT procurements.
The policy will be up for review in 12 months time.
